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. . Subject Enrichment Activity. By:- Aditya Singh. 

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. . Different Types of Sources:-. Archeological Sources. 

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Some materials of the 
past that are buried deep 
under the earth which 
include materials like 
coins, inscriptions, etc

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Sources which include 
written literature in the 
forms of books, 
biographies, poetry, etc

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 They are both primary 
and secondary sources

. . Use in Reconstruction of History of Medieval Period. 

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Use in Reconstruction of History of Medieval Period

The archaeological and literary sources of information help historians trace history. Archaeological 
sources include monuments, temples, inscriptions, coins and weapons. Literary sources include 
manuscripts, folk tales, poems and biographies of different rulers.

Archeological sources play an important role while reconstructing history. It improves our knowledge 
related to our history and presents important evidence for verifying the claims of historians.

Artifacts recovered from excavation helps us to get the accurate dates about the lives of past 
communities. Famous dating methods are Carbon-14 dating and radiocarbon dating.

Manuscripts were collected by wealthy people, rulers, monasteries and temples. The manuscripts provide

detailed information to historians but they are also difficult to use

. . . . . Of Kanishka. Archaeological Sources Literary Source. 

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Archaeological Sources                           Literary Source

. . Information obtained from Archeological Sources. 

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Information obtained from Archeological Sources

• Inscriptions or the writings engraved on hard surfaces like pillars, 
cave walls, stones, walls of temples, copper or clay tablets often have 
names and dates of the kings.

Artefacts: While digging at the excavation sites, the archaeologists 
sometimes find pottery, vessels, jewellery, paintings, etc. made or 
used by the people of ancient civilisations

• Coins: Engravings on the coins give us important information about 
the kings, the names and dates of dynasties, the extent of their 
kingdom, the language, life and economic condition of the kingdom.

. . Information obtained from Literary Sources. History is based mainly on written records such as manuscripts, books, writing on the rocks, pillars, stones walls, clay tablets, etc.. 

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Information obtained from Literary Sources

History is based mainly on written records such as manuscripts, 
books, writing on the rocks, pillars, stones walls, clay tablets, 
etc.

Literary sources can be divided into three categories:

• Religious Literature: includes the religious text of the Hindus, the 
Buddhists and the Jains.

• Secular Literature: includes text of nonreligious nature such as 
biographies, autobiographies, plays, poems, etc.

• Accounts of Foreign Travellers of their journey and the lands they 
visited are an important source of understanding the past.

. . Information related to Historical Developments. 

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Information related to Historical Developments

The medieval period in India is characterized by important historical developments

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Trade led to a greater interaction between people from different parts of 
the world. India borrowed many things from the cultures of other 
countries.

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The Muslim dynasties, particularly the Mughals, provided many 
centuries of political stability to the country. This led to increase in trade 
and the rapid growth of towns and cities.

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During the medieval period, Islam spread in India. The Bhakti and sufi 
movements spread the massage of devotion to god and kindness towards 
all human beings.

➢
The period saw major technological advances, including the adoption 
of gunpowder, the invention of vertical windmills, spectacles, 
mechanical clocks, and greatly improved water mills, building techniques 
(Gothic architecture, medieval castles), and agriculture in general 
(three-field crop rotation).

. . How Historians study past using different sources. 

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How Historians study past using different sources

Historians use tools to help them do their job. Some of these tools are primary 
sources. A primary source is something written or created by a person who saw a 
historical event. Letters, diaries, speeches, and photographs are examples of 
primary sources. Artifacts such as tools are also primary sources. Other tools that 
historians use are secondary sources. They are written after a historical event by 
people who did not see the event. Books and paintings that are based on primary 
sources and appear after an event are examples of secondary sources. Yet 
another tool that historians use is oral history. This is made up of all the unwritten 
verbal accounts of events. Historians depend on oral history when studying 
cultures that have no written records. Oral histories include the stories, customs, 
and songs that people in a culture have passed down from generation to 
generation.

Aditya Singh 7H SST Activity7

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